Even though Cana was already reeking of booze, Kira had no doubt she could keep drinking well into the night. Seeing her in this tipsy state, he figured now was the perfect time to strike a deal—her judgment was cloudy, and maybe, just maybe, she'd agree on impulse.
Like Erza, Cana was one of Kira's main customers. She might not be a VIP, but as a shopkeeper, Kira couldn't afford to play favorites. Every customer deserved enthusiasm and a chance to spend their jewels—and if that chance didn't exist, he'd make one.
It wasn't just Erza's armor. Almost all the magical items in the Fairy Tail guild—magic crystals, weapons, pens, you name it—came from Kira's workshop. Maybe it was a perk of being a transmigrator, or maybe it was pure talent, but a few years back, Kira discovered he had a knack for crafting magical items. Combining forging techniques with word spirit magic, he churned out all sorts of quirky gadgets.
Smaller, imperfect creations included things like Speed Boots, Telekinetic Daggers, Prophecy Cards, and Lucky Dice. For bigger stuff, he made armor, staves, and rings—basically a one-man Magnolia department store.
Cana, with her card magic, needed magic cards to fight, and Kira? He was a pro at making magical items. Whipping up a deck of cards was a breeze for him.
Cana slammed her tankard on the bar counter, grumbling drunkenly, "Here's the thing… your prices are way too steep! How am I supposed to afford that?"
"What kinda talk is that?" Kira shot back, unfazed. "You get what you pay for, Cana. You know my cards—top quality, built to last. Plus, your money's not gone; it's just sticking with you in a different form. Way more valuable than those two barrels of booze you're clutching."
Kira's tone was matter-of-fact, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"But… it's really expensive," Cana muttered, hesitating. "I'm not an S-Class wizard like you or Erza."
She wavered, but she knew how powerful Kira's items were.
"Holder magic relies on strong magical tools," Kira pressed. "If you wanna get stronger, you've gotta invest a little. Become S-Class, take on some high-paying jobs, and boom—your money's back in no time."
---
In the world of magic, there are two main types: Holder Magic and Ability Magic.
Holder Magic depends on magical tools to cast spells. Celestial Spirit Magic is the cream of the crop here—powerful spirits from their own realm, summoned by wizards using specific keys. Below the Celestial Spirit King are the Twelve Zodiacs, summoned with ultra-rare golden keys. Below those are silver keys, and whether there's anything else, Kira wasn't too sure.
Since most of their fighting power comes from spirits, Celestial Spirit Wizards tend to be the weakest in direct combat—unless they don a Celestial Spirit Battle Outfit.
Swap Magic, on the other hand, is the opposite. Wizards rely on equipped gear, fighting with powerful weapons themselves, which makes them physically tougher. Gear comes in all forms—Erza uses armor, while Bisca and Alzack in the guild wield guns.
Card magic, like Cana's, is a type of Holder Magic, but it's not exactly a standout. There are three reasons for that:
First, card wizards don't have the raw power of celestial spirits or the physical strength of Swap Magic users. They're stuck in a middle ground—not quite excelling at either.
Second, production issues. Card wizards can't use the magic in their cards directly or make the cards themselves—otherwise, why bother with cards at all? So, most magic cards have to be bought, costing a fortune with no guarantee of quality. After all, cardmakers usually aren't powerful wizards. If they were, they wouldn't be stuck making cards—they'd be out fighting. So, high-powered cards are rare.
Third, their power is just… average. Card magic's versatility means it lacks specialization. It's got a built-in flaw that's hard to overcome—unless you're cheating the system, like Kira does.
That's why, in the original story, Cana was later given "Fairy Glitter" to boost her. Without it, her card magic alone wouldn't have been enough to join Team B. In terms of raw strength, even Lucy—heck, maybe even Levy—could outshine her.
Right now, Cana hadn't yet been overshadowed by overpowered folks like Natsu and Gray. Kira figured her strength was probably on par with Loke's—Leo, the Zodiac spirit who'd been stuck in the human world for three years, his power heavily drained. Once Lucy showed up and Loke regained his full strength as a celestial spirit, Cana would be the one left behind.
---
At the bar, Cana sat in silence, torn. Kira, meanwhile, was practically shouting, frustrated by her indecision.
Gray, watching from the side, thought to himself: What a shady merchant.
Seeing Cana waver, Kira doubled down. "This new deck took me a whole week to finish. It's seriously powerful. If you don't want it, I'll have to sell it to someone else."
Then he switched tactics, playing the emotional card. "C'mon, Cana, you know me. How many card wizards do I even know? I made these cards for you."
Kira tapped the counter to grab her attention, then pointed at Gray, who was casually munching on some snacks nearby. "We've known each other for over a decade—longer than I've known this guy. And my reputation? Everyone in the guild's bought my stuff. Has anyone ever complained? We've done so many deals, and my cards are always top-notch, guaranteed."
"Ever since you joined Fairy Tail, you've been busting your tail to become S-Class. I've seen it all. But think about it—you've been in the guild for 12 years. Five people have made S-Class, and you're still waiting. Is it because you lack talent? Because you haven't worked hard enough?"
"No way! You've got tons of magic power, killer combat skills, and a brain that puts Natsu and Gray to shame. All you're missing is a set of powerful magic cards!"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Gray piped up, annoyed, but Kira ignored him.
His words were righteous, booming, like a devil's whisper hitting Cana right in the heart.
Become S-Class! Become S-Class! BECOME S-CLASS! I have to…
"Ten cards, 500,000 jewels."
"That's insane!" Gray blurted out.
"I want… are you kidding me?! You shady jerk, go drop dead!" Cana snapped.